A man who drove without a licence under the influence of cocaine and cannabis has been spared jail time despite committing the same crime twice within a month of each other.

Jamie Rush, 24, of no fixed abode, was handed a four month suspended sentence for a string of offences.

He was first stopped by police on April 14, 2017 after his Ford KA triggered a camera earlier that day signalling that it was not insured.

On inspection, police found that Rush, who was driving the vehicle, only possessed a provisional licence and also smelled of cannabis.

Rush was found to have four and a half times the legal limit of cannabis in him to drive after blood samples were taken.

He was also found to have six and a half times more than the legal drive limit for cocaine, the equivalent of 65mg in one litre of blood.

He was released from police custody under investigation, only to be stopped yet again by police after he was seen driving his girlfriend’s car in Corringham on May 4, less than three weeks later.

Again, Rush tested positive for cannabis albeit at a lesser degree than the first offence.

He was also in breach of a suspended sentence for a similar offence which he was coming to the end of when he was stopped by officers.

Mitigating for Rush, Gavin Capper told the court that police only stopped the vehicle because it was flagged as having no third party insurance, and that there were no concerns as to his standard of driving.

Mr Capper said: “There were no concerns of the driving of Mr Rush.

“Although the carrying of a passenger can be seen as an aggravating feature, there is no evidence that his driving was sub-standard.

“When he was arrested he did not seek to avoid culpability.

“He was cooperative with police and is not a prolific offender.”

Handing down a suspended sentence, Recorder John Caudle passed said at Southend Crown Court yesterday (November 29): “You and your supporters did yourselves no favours when you arrived at court today.

“On April 14 of this year, you were stopped by police because the camera had taken a picture of you found to be without insurance.

“Knowing that you had a problem with seeing your children and were going through the lower court still committed a further offence on May 4.

“You borrowed your girlfriend’s car knowing you were not allowed to drive.

“You are a young man aged 24 and I suspect you agree with me that you are perhaps a bit immature and you need to do some growing up – you have responsibilities now.

“There was nothing actually wrong with your driving and also when you were arrested you did not try to run away and you cooperated and pleaded guilty to both offences.

“This clearly passes the custody threshold, but taking everything into account I am going to give you a chance but this is your last chance.

“I am taking a risk here – if you breach this suspended sentence and I am available you will come back before me and will go inside.”

Rush was also ordered to undertake 40 rehabilitation days, as well as a total of 120 hours of unpaid work for his crimes.